Chapter 33: Kija and her story

The ten men placed the litter in the sand. They weren't close to the border yet, but already exhausted. The night sky was clear as Dedyet stepped outside.

"Oh, excuse me?" She asked them.

They turned around to her. "Yes, your highness?"

"I wanted to know how you feel."

The men's eyes widened. They had been working several years for the de Niles, and not once had they ever been asked about their feelings.

Dedyet continued. "Because if you are too exhausted to carry us home, you can wait here and rest. I don't want you to break down."

"We will bring you back to Upper Egypt as soon and safe as possible, your highness. We will not dare to rest as long as you don't specifically order it."

Dedyet looked back to see her six servants step out of the litter as well. They had come along after seeing the violent action of King Setpenkhamun. He did not want anyone to know, but there were barely any servants left in his palace. He had thrown many out over the years and some had left themselves.

"We will keep going, your highness," the de Nile servants eventually announced, having regained some strength.

"Thank you," Dedyet answered. "I really appreciate it, and I am sure that my servants do, too. Thank you for bringing us home."

And so the carriers walked. And walked and walked and walked…

Carrying a litter and several people in it was an exhausting task, but these ten men were doing it for years. They were used to it, really.

Inside, five women were sleeping, overly exhausted. Only Dedyet and one of her servants were still awake.

Dedyet felt the need to start a conversation. She had been knowing the women in here for such a long time… Not once had they ever really had a real conversation. "So… What are your thoughts on all this?"

The woman's eyes widened, shocked that the princess herself had spoken to someone as low as a servant in a situation like that. "I… I really can't believe what our pharaoh has done to you, your highness," the servant stated nervously.

"I know, right?"

"Is… Is your nose okay again?"

"Oh, yes. It was just a bit of blood. I was shocked in the moment, but my nose itself is nothing to worry about."

"Can I ask you something, your highness?" The woman blushed, half-way expecting to be beaten.

But the answer was as peaceful as Dedyet herself. "You can ask me anything."

The woman blushed deeply, embarrassed. "Has your brother ever…hurt you?"

"He has never hurt me physically, no."

"I'm sorry that I asked… I was worried."

"Thank you for your concern. You should never be afraid to ask a question."

"So… You are now engaged?" The woman asked, biting her lip and blushing deeply, cursing herself for bothering Egypt's future queen.

Dedyet nodded. "I am."

"I wonder what this will mean for our kingdom…"

"My brother is unbelievably unpopular, isn't he?"

"I can't tell, my princess. I don't dare say."

"Ramses is a really loving man. He will unite Egypt and all of you will live in peace."

Her eyes widened. "Unite Egypt? That sounds like a really big plan."

"Yes, but the odds are good. My brother has nothing left."

"There are a few male servants who have stayed at his place, my princess."

"I know. Words can't express how much that makes me worry. Let's just pray he won't abuse them."

The servant nodded.

It was Dedyet who eventually spoke up again. "Can I ask you for your name?"

"Oh, your highness! I am just a poor servant! I do not deserve to have you call me by my name!"

"Oh, nonsense. You seem to be trustworthy and friendly, so I would really like to know. Would you tell me?"

"My name is Kija."

"Hm, I think I've never heard that name before. Is it from the North?"

"It is not, your highness…"

"And why do you have a Southern name if you live in the North?"

The woman – obviously older than Dedyet – bit her lip once again. "I have family in Upper Egypt," she admitted carefully.

"Oh! That's really interesting! Are they happy in my future husband's kingdom?"

Kija nodded. "Yes, very."

"It's probably hard to keep contact, right, because they live so far away?"

Suddenly, the servant was in tears.

Dedyet was shocked. "Kija! I am so sorry if I said anything wrong to you!"

"It is fine, your highness. Please don't apologize because of my bad behavior." She rubbed her tears away.

"Your behavior is not bad at all."

Kija nodded, having a thankful look on her face.

"So…?"

"I was born in the South, your highness."

"Oh!"

"My entire family is there. My parents, grandparents and children."

"Children?"

"Yes."

"You have children?!"

"I am sorry that I didn't inform you before, your highness."

"Why aren't you with them?"

"My family is really poor. My husband has died a few years ago. The only income is the money I make by working in your brother's place. I could have worked for the royal family in Upper Egypt too – and I feel like a traitor to leave my kingdom like that and work for a different pharaoh – but I didn't have a choice! I make much more by working here than in the South, because your brother's way to handle money is a little bit…weird. He is overpaying his servants, probably not even knowing it."

"Oh Kija, it is terrible that you can't be with your family!"

"I actually learned to be a nurse and take care of children, but since there are no royal children in Lower Egypt, I could only work as a servant. I send the money I make directly to my family in the North. My mother takes good care of my children. Without me working here, I don't think my parents or children would still be alive…"

"I feel so horrible."

"Oh, please don't, your highness! This is not your fault!"

"Why didn't you tell me? I would have given you money anytime!"

"But I cannot ask the princess for money!"

"If you are in deep need, then yes, you can. I am seriously surprised that my bother let a woman from the South work for him. You know, with all the prejudices in his heart."

"I was lying to him about where I was born," Kija answered in shame, facing the ground. "Please punish me as needed."

"Punish you? I won't punish you at all!"

"I was lying to the pharaoh, a living god. I think that makes me deserving of death…"

"He is not your pharaoh. Ramses is."

Kija nodded. "He must hate me."

"No. Ramses has an open heart."

"I believe you, your highness. No way did I intend to insult the pharaoh in any way!"

Dedyet was obviously sad, Kija's story going through her head. "Oh, Kija…What would your children be without you?"

"Dead, I suppose…"

"Would you tell me more about your family? Just a few minutes ago, I had no idea that you were living such a horrible life… And please, don't worry about lying to my brother. He himself has lied to me a thousand times, yet the gods keep forgiving him."

"Well… My father makes a bit of money with harvesting grain. It is really just a tiny bit, barely enough to keep a single person alive. But it helps us survive, too. My mother has an illness. There is something really wrong with her legs and feet – they are really swollen and hurt – but we can't afford to let her see a doctor. She is now almost unable to walk, but still a loving woman. She has taught me a lot about nursing. Caring for the royal family's children has been a dream of mine since I am young."

"This sounds both wonderful and incredibly heart-breaking. What about your children? How old are they?"

"I have two sons and three daughters. My daughters are twelve, ten and six. My sons are eight and four. I got them all two years apart. Funny, huh?"

"I believe the gods have wanted it this way."

"Absolutely."

"It is funny how I have cursed my future husband's curiousity regarding my family, and how I am now so interested in yours. Would you care to tell me more? Just if you want to."

"My oldest daughter will soon marry a man she fell in love with. He is eighteen and makes more money than I do. Maybe then I can start to save up and move back to where my family is…"

"That is wonderful! Do you keep contact over letters?"

"We do. Seeing how much food is thrown away in the upper classes often makes me sad." Tears were coming back into her eyes. "I can't bear the fact that my youngest children are sometimes starving."

Dedyet was near tears as well. She pulled Kija into a hug. "Kija, we will change this. The de Nile servants are bringing us to Upper Egypt now, over the border. You will reunite with your family and make money again. Everything will be okay."

"Your highness, I have lost my job."

"With coming with me, you mean?"

"Your brother will never take me back now!"

"How about you work for the de Niles?"

"I can't. I have betrayed them by leaving their kingdom and working for their rival rather than them. If the pharaoh knew, I think he would get me killed."

"This is not true. Only a heartless person would resist to give you a job, Kija! No way would Ramses' father want you to suffer. You have to understand that you haven't done anything wrong by working in the North. Love is stronger than regret. Remember?"

Kija nodded in tears. "I really hope that you are right, my princess."

"May the gods guide us and bring us back home safely."